Staggs Family History

My ancestors in the United States

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    Ruth Bisbee (1714-1754)

    BIRTH: 21 JAN 1714, Marshfield, Massachusetts, USA
    DEATH: 10 FEB 1754, Hingham, Massachusetts, USA
    FATHER: John Bisbee (1690-1773)
    MOTHER: Mary Oldham (1686-1775)
    SPOUSE: Job Bonney (1709-1773)

    When Ruth Bisbee was born on January 21, 1714, in Marshfield, Massachusetts, her father, John, was 23, and her mother, Mary, was 27. She married Job Bonney on May 9, 1733, in Pembroke, Massachusetts. They had 12 children in 19 years. She died on February 10, 1754, in Hingham, Massachusetts, at the age of 40.

    Her story

    Ruth Bisbee was born on January 21, 1714, in Marshfield, a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. She entered the world during a time when New England was still deeply rooted in its Puritan heritage, and colonial families lived by the rhythms of the land, faith, and community. Her parents, likely descended from early settlers, raised her in a region steeped in tradition and resilience.

    Record of the marriage of Job Bonney and Ruth Bisbee in the Pembroke Town Meeting Records of Animal Ownership, with Births, Marriages, and Deaths (full view)

    On May 9, 1733, Ruth married Job Bonney of Pembroke, Massachusetts. Their union marked the beginning of a prolific and devoted partnership. Over the next two decades, Ruth gave birth to twelve children—a testament to her strength and endurance in an era when motherhood was both a sacred duty and a daily challenge. Among their children were Jethro, Benjamin, Levi, Mary, and Job Jr., many of whom would go on to raise families of their own and help shape the fabric of early American society.

    Ruth’s life was defined by the quiet heroism of colonial womanhood. She managed a household, nurtured a large family, and supported her husband through the trials of frontier life. Her days were filled with labor—cooking, sewing, gardening, and teaching her children the values of hard work and faith. Though she lived before the American Revolution, Ruth’s generation laid the moral and cultural foundation upon which the new nation would be built.

    Tragically, Ruth passed away on February 10, 1754, in Hingham, Massachusetts, at the age of 40. Her death came shortly after the birth of her youngest children, Charles and Mercy. She left behind a legacy of devotion, perseverance, and familial strength. Her children carried her spirit into the Revolutionary era and beyond, spreading the Bonney name across Massachusetts and New York.

    Today, Ruth Bisbee is remembered not only as a mother and wife, but as a vital link in the chain of American ancestry. Her descendants include farmers, patriots, and pioneers—men and women who helped shape the early republic. Through genealogical records and family stories, Ruth’s life continues to inspire those who seek to understand the roots of their heritage.

    Legacy of Ruth Bisbee

    Parents

    Father: John Bisbee (1690-1773)

    Mother: Mary Oldham (1686-1775)

    Married

    Married Job Bonney (1709-1773) on May 9, 1733, in Pembroke, Massachusetts

    Children

    • Jethro Bonney (1735-1824) married Rachel Bailey (1742-1777)
    • Jonathan Bonney (1736-1736)
    • Jonathan Bonney (1737-1756) married Peggy Torrey
    • Benjamin Bonney (1739-1803) married Hannah Day (1748-1839)
    • Mary Bonney (1741-1822) married Webster Hayford (1736-1819)
    • Levi Bonney (1743-1824) married Mary May (1746-?)
    • Ruth Bonney (1746-1809) married Abiel Stetson (1738-1819)
    • Elizabeth Bonney (1747-1779)
    • Job Bonney Jr (1750-1801)
    • Luke Bonney (1752-1807) twin – married Mercy Thomas (1752-?)
    • Charles Bonney (1752-?) twin – married Barsheba Andross (1758-?)
    • Mercy Bonney (1754-?)

    Documents

    Relation of Ruth Bisbee to Steven Barry Staggs: 7th great-grandmother

    Page last updated November 25, 2025

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